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Even though their jobs sound similar—both professions work on pipes—a plumber and pipefitter actually have very different jobs, and pipefitting isn’t considered plumbing. Pipefitting is done in commercial and industrial buildings and factories, and the pipes carry gas, chemicals, acid, and other potentially hazardous substances. Pipefitters often work in intense conditions while plumbers may work in lower-pressure environments.

In most cases, yes, it’s safe to light a gas water heater manually, but you should shut the gas off first, open a window, and let the space air out for about 10 minutes. Modern water heaters shut the gas off entirely if the pilot light goes out, but airing out the area beforehand is good practice and will ensure it’s safe to relight your pilot light manually. Just make sure you turn the gas valve to “pilot” before lighting. If the light keeps going out or won’t light at all, call in a professional.

A local natural gas plumber, gas fitter, or gas line specialist should fix gas leaks. Installing gas lines and connections improperly can lead to dangerous gas leaks and explosions. Only a certified plumber or gas line specialist should run gas lines. This is not a job to try out DIY skills, so hire a professional gas plumber or gas line specialist immediately to find the cause of the leak and fix it quickly.  

Fixing a gas leak costs about $45 to $150 per hour for a plumber or gas line specialist. The job’s overall cost will vary depending on the location of the leak. A leaky junction or connection behind the stove or dryer will likely cost about $120 to $170. But for a leak that requires a gas fitter or plumber to excavate a pipe in the yard, the cost could rise to $1,500 to $5,000. Keep in mind that gas leaks are very serious issues, so don’t hesitate to contact a plumber or gas line specialist immediately.